Chinese Question Words & How to Ask Questions — 谁, 什么, 怎么, and More

The simplest way to ask a yes/no question is to add 吗 (ma) to the end of a statement. The word order does not change at all. 你是学生 (nǐ shì xué sheng) means "you are a student"; add 吗 and it becomes 你是学生吗 (nǐ shì xué sheng ma) — "are you a student?".

The same pattern works with any statement. 你喜欢喝茶 (nǐ xǐ huan hē chá) — you like drinking tea — becomes 你喜欢喝茶吗 (nǐ xǐ huan hē chá ma) — do you like drinking tea? To answer, repeat the verb or use 是/不是, 对/不对, 好/不好.

吗 is neutral; it simply requests a yes or no answer without implying an expected answer. Say 你会说中文吗 (nǐ huì shuō zhōng wén ma) — can you speak Chinese? and answer 会 (huì, yes I can) or 不会 (bú huì, no I cannot).

Chinese question words stay in the exact position where the answer would appear. Unlike English, you never move them to the front of the sentence. 谁 (shéi) is who: 他是谁 (tā shì shéi) — who is he? 什么 (shén me) is what: 这是什么 (zhè shì shén me) — what is this?

For place, 哪儿 (nǎr) or 哪里 (nǎ lǐ) means where: 你在哪儿 (nǐ zài nǎr) — where are you? For time, 什么时候 (shén me shí hou) means when: 你什么时候来 (nǐ shén me shí hou lái) — when are you coming? For reason, 为什么 (wèi shén me) means why: 你为什么学中文 — why are you learning Chinese?

怎么 (zěn me) means how: 这个怎么读 (zhè ge zěn me dú) — how do you read this? Use 几 (jǐ) for small numbers you can count on one hand: 你有几个孩子 (nǐ yǒu jǐ ge hái zi) — how many children do you have? Use 多少 (duō shao) for larger numbers, amounts, and prices: 这个多少钱 (zhè ge duō shao qián) — how much is this?

To offer a choice between options, use 还是 (hái shì), which means "or" inside a question. 你要茶还是咖啡 (nǐ yào chá hái shì kā fēi) — do you want tea or coffee? Answer by picking one: 我要咖啡 (wǒ yào kā fēi) — I want coffee.

Do not confuse 还是 with 或者 (huò zhě). 还是 is used only in questions, while 或者 means "or" inside a statement. 我想喝茶或者咖啡 (wǒ xiǎng hē chá huò zhě kā fēi) — I want to drink tea or coffee — is a statement, not a question.

For yes/no choices with verbs, use the positive-negative form instead: 你去不去 (nǐ qù bu qù) — are you going or not? 好不好 (hǎo bu hǎo) — is it okay? This is covered in the next section.

呢 (ne) asks a follow-up question, meaning "what about...?" or "and...?". After someone asks 你好吗 (nǐ hǎo ma), reply 我很好，你呢 (wǒ hěn hǎo, nǐ ne) — I am fine, and you? To ask where something is, say 我的手机呢 (wǒ de shǒu jī ne) — what about my phone?

The positive-negative pattern repeats a verb with 不 or 没 in the middle to ask for confirmation: 对不对 (duì bu duì, right?), 是不是 (shì bu shì, is it not?), 有没有 (yǒu méi yǒu, do you have or not?), and 喜不喜欢 (xǐ bu xǐ huan, do you like it or not?).

These tag forms feel natural and casual. 你是老师，对不对 (nǐ shì lǎo shī, duì bu duì) — you are a teacher, right? Say 你明天去不去学校 (nǐ míng tiān qù bu qù xué xiào) — are you going to school tomorrow or not?

Particles soften a question. 吧 (ba) suggests an answer or seeks agreement: 你是中国人吧 (nǐ shì zhōng guó rén ba) — you are Chinese, right? It also softens a suggestion into a question: 我们走吧 (wǒ men zǒu ba) — shall we go?

啊 (a) makes a direct question sound friendlier and more curious: 你是谁啊 (nǐ shì shéi a) — who are you, then? Compare the plain 你是谁, which can sound abrupt. Adding 啊 keeps the question gentle.

To be polite, start with 请问 (qǐng wèn) — excuse me, may I ask: 请问洗手间在哪里 (qǐng wèn xǐ shǒu jiān zài nǎ lǐ) — excuse me, where is the restroom? Use 可以...吗 (kě yǐ ... ma) to ask permission: 可以帮我吗 (kě yǐ bāng wǒ ma) — can you help me?